02 Jun 2022

Botswana on Wednesday joined the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth in celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne as well as her public birthday.

Speaking during the celebration  held in Gaborone, British high commissioner and UK special representative to SADC Ms Sian Price noted that the queen had ruled longer than any other monarch in British history.

Her extraordinary reign had seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits including to Botswana in 1979, said Ms Price.

She explained that in the UK the historic milestone would be marked by four days of celebrations that mixed the best of British ceremonial splendour, spectacular concerts, informal community and family events such as street parties and jubilee lunches across the country.

Noting that  the celebrations were not limited to the UK, Ms Price said over 600 formal events were planned in more than 70 countries across the Commonwealth and even further afield.

She said the queen’s platinum jubilee and birthday party were also celebrated in Botswana to strengthen UK-Botswana relations.

“When Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi addressed the diplomatic corps last month, he told us that he wanted us to consider Botswana as a friend we want to keep and that has certainly been the case for the UK.

Botswana is indeed an old friend that UK certainly wants to keep and like all friends we have both come to each other’s assistance in times of need. Since then our relationship has gone from strength to strength to become the valued, equal partnership that it is today,” she said.

Ms Price said the two countries continued to work hard on areas of common interest and identifying new ways of strengthening the relationship.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Kabo Morwaeng said with the queen’s support, the UK played a key role in Botswana‘s development through effective implementation of bilateral agreements in various fields.

Such partnerships, he said, remained important to Botswana’s ongoing development advancement efforts.

The minister reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to work closely with British High Commission to strengthen the over 50 years friendship with the UK. ENDS